- Blake Walston of the Arizona Diamondbacks received his call to the big leagues while playing blackjack in Las Vegas on Tuesday.
- The left-handed pitcher was at the Red Rock Casino blackjack table when he got the call from manager Blake Lalli that he would join the Arizona Diamondbacks.
- Walston made his debut later that night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, striking out five batters across 3.2 innings of work.
PHOENIX – One minute you’re unlucky at the blackjack table, the next minute you’re getting a phone call to play for the Arizona Diamondbacks. That’s not how it goes for most people, but it’s exactly what happened to Diamondbacks prospect Blake Walston on Tuesday.
Walston was at the blackjack table at Red Rock Casino when he received his call up to the big leagues on Tuesday. The 6-foot-5 left-handed pitcher was in Las Vegas after the Triple-A affiliate Reno Aces played the Las Vegas Aviators earlier that day.
Prospect Gets Off Blackjack Table To Join Diamondbacks
“We were in Vegas, and I was at the table and all my buddies started swarming me. Coach came down there and I threw my last hand out there, lost, and he was like “You don’t have to worry about it. You’re going to the big leagues,” said Walston in a clubhouse interview.
Walston had a 12 against a 10 in that losing hand, a situation where blackjack by the book says to hit. We don’t know how the hand played out, other than the fact that it didn’t work out.
Walston showed promise in his debut, posting five strikeouts across 3.2 innings pitched against a tough Los Angeles Dodgers lineup. His main issue was control, as the big lefty surrendered four walks that led to two earned runs.
Still, the blackjack player proved he’s also a great pitcher to Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo. The 22-year-old pitcher can find plenty of legal Arizona blackjack spots during his time with the major league squad.